Duplicating machine



April 17, 1934. J. J. FLANIGAN 1,955,059

DUPLI CATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l A ril 17, 1934. J. J. FLANIGAN 1,955,059

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1931 5 sheegs-Sheet 2 April 17, 1934. J. J. FLANIGAN DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26,

1931 '5 SheetsSheet 5 A ril 17, 1934. J. J. FLANIGAN ,Q59

DUPLIGATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 17, 1934.

J. J. FLANIGAN DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1931 5 SheetsSheet 5 Patented Apr. 17, 1934 NITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE DUPLICATING MACHINE Illinois Application September 26, 1931, Serial No. 565,283

23 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating machines operating on the hectograph principle and using a gelatin band wound into a supply roll which may be so mounted at one end of the machine that the band may be withdrawn from the roll and directed across the bed of the machine to be rewound onto a take-up roll.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel duplicating machine of simple and economical construction and efiicient and positive operation wherein the gelatin band may be either wound onto or from the take-up roll by a single operating member through the intermediary of devices automatically connecting either the supply roll or the take-up roll to the operating memher as said operating member is moved in opposite directions. An object ancillary to the foregoing is to so mount the winding devices that installation or removal thereof may be carried out with a minimum alteration of other parts of the machine. In order that clean, clearcut impressions may be taken from the gelatin band, it is necessary that the extent of the band across the bed he maintained taut and another object is to so retard movement of the supply and take-up rolls that the band may be tightened and maintained in taut condition.

In hectograph machines pressure is exerted onto the sheet to force it into engagement with the portion of the gelatin band having the form thereon, and a further object of the invention is to utilize the weight of the carriage to apply this pressure.

Still further objects of the invention are to elevate the carriage at one end of its travel across the bed of the machine; to so mount the platen roller that it may be expeditiously passed by the grip roller in the carriage whereby the platen roller will be held in impression making position; to so mount the carriage that it may be pivoted to or from operative position relative to the bed; to so guide the carriage that the platen roller will move over the gelatin band in a uniform manner upon repetitious operations of the carriage; to compensate for varied operating conditions during the movement of the platen roller over the bed whereby the guiding arrangement will be maintained in proper operative position; and to prevent accumulation of foreign matter in the guiding arrangement by providing for self-cleaning of the guiding devices. 7

In the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of my novel duplicating machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially on the line 3--3 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4. on Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an end view taken substantially on the line 6-6 on Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating 5 the mounting for the platen roller; Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, are fragmentary side elevational views illustrating different operative positions of the carriage and platen roller;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional View of a winding mechanism used in the machine;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 12l2 on Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view taken substantially on the line 13-43 on Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 is a view taken substantially on the line 1i14 on Fig. 11.

In the selected embodiment of the duplicating machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 15 and 16 are side frames, suitably joined together and mounted a predetermined distance apart, providing a support for the bed 1'7 across which the gelatin band 18 is directed so that a form to be duplicated may be applied thereto to be transferred onto sheets pressed against the 35 portion of the gelatin band extending above the bed 1'? whereat the form is applied. Gelatin bands, such as are used in hectograph machines of the type to which this invention appertains, are wound in rolls which are usually stored in stands of the kind disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 553,997, filed July 30, 1931, or are kept in suitable racks provided near the machine. These rolls include spindles and when a roll is to be used it is suitably mounted at the rear of the machine and provides what will be hereinafter called the supply roll 19 having a spindle 20. At the forward end of the machine,

a spindle 21 is suitably mounted on which the gelatin band may be wound, this arrangement constituting what will be known hereafter as the take-up roll 22. A carriage C is mounted to be reciprocal across the bed 17 and the gelatin band stretched thereover. This carriage C includes a frame 23 having side members 24 and 25. On 5 the side member 24 is a roller 26 adapted to travel on a trackway, provided on the top of the side frame 15, under certain conditions of operation as will be described hereinafter. The side member 25 carries a roller 27, similar to, and for the 1 same purpose as, the roller 26, and the frame 23 adjacent the side member 25 includes a unitary depending portion 28. Adjacent the free end of the vertically extending portion 28 is a bearing arrangement 29 through which the guide rod 30 is passed. Mounted on the side frame member 16 is a protecting housing, generally indicated by 31, which includes a horizontal upper wall 32, a vertically extending wall 33, mounted on the outer side of and joined to the side frame 16, and end walls 34 and 35. In the protecting housing 31 is a supporting strip 36 having, at the ends thereof, foot portions mounted inwardly of the end walls 34 and 35. As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the foot portions of the strip 36 are pivotally mounted on the end walls 34 and 35 of the protecting housing 31 by bolt and nut structures 37. The ends of the guide rod 30 are suitably mounted in the foot portions of the strip 36 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The guide rod 30 is mounted adjacent the free ends of the foot portions of the strip 36, while the pivotal mounting of these foot portions is located adjacent the main extent of the strip 36. Thus, the guide rod 30 may be moved upwardly and downwardly uniformly, that is to say, all parts of the rod may move in a substantially vertical plane. Thus, when the carriage is at either end of the bed the guide rod is not inclined but remains in a horizontal plane for when one end of the rod is moved upwardly the other end of the rod is moved upwardly by reason of the mounting of the rod in the foot portions on the strip 36. Substantially medially of the extent of the strip 36, a pin 38 is secured which extends through slots in the wall 33 and side frame 16 so that the free end thereof is disposed inwardly of the side frame. Secured to the side frame 16 is a bracket 39 having an adjustable screw 40 vertically extending therethrough on which lock nuts 41 are provided. A spring 42 extends between the pin 38 and the free end of the screw 40 and by varying the position of said screw, the tension of the spring may be adjusted. At the lower end of the wall 33 of the housing 31 is a right angularly extending ledge 43 which provides an abutment. Normally, the carriage C is disposed in the fullline position of Fig. 6 and when the cross rail 44 on the carriage is abutted with the stop 45 on the side frame 15, the rollers 26 and 2'7 rest on the pads 46 and 47 respectively provided on the upper sides of the side frames 15 and 16. When the carriage is in this position, most of the weight thereof is supported by the rollers 26 and 27 and the platen roller lightly rests on the gelatin band when the platen roller is moved downwardly into operative position. However, when the carriage moves forwardly to disengage the stop 45, the rollers 26 and 27 disengage the pads 46 and 47, and the weight of the carriage will be supported, under conditions to be described, entirely by the platen roller R. The bearing arrangement 29 has two sleeves 48 and 49 (Figs. 2 and 3) at the ends thereof which, as shown in Fig. 3, have diametrically opposed axially extending grooves 50 and 51 therein which, when the carriage is in the full-line position of Fig. 6, are aligned with the upper and lower portions of the guide rod 30, these grooves serving to reduce the friction between the sleeves and the guide rod. As the carriage moves over the bed 17, the sleeves 48 and 49 cooperate with the guide rod to prevent pivotal movement of the carriage in a horizontal plane relative to the extent of the band to thereby maintain the platen roller R in proper position during its movement over the portion of the band 18 stretched over the bed 17. As the carriage moves across the gelatin band, the relative position thereof with respect to the bed 17 may vary in a vertical plane and should this occur, the guide rod may pivot with the strip 36 against the action of the spring 42, which spring will tend to hold the rod in an intermediate position. However, when it is desired to have unobstructed access to the portion of the gelatin band directed across the bed 17, the carriage may be pivoted on the bearing sleeves 48 and 49 about the guide rod 30 and when this is done the free ends of the vertically extending portion will abut the ledge 43 to limit pivotal movement of the carriage and when the carriage is so pivoted, the spring 42 is elongated, the parts being shown in this arrangement in Fig. 5. By reason of the foregoing construction, the carriage may be made in one piece and by providing a suitable jig all the necessary openings may be accurately drilled therein to be properly positioned. Hence, expensive machining operations are eliminated and the cost of manufacture is reduced, and furthermore accuracy may be maintained since there ,3

are no parts which must be kept in close adjustment which would be affected by wear. By reason of the floating mounting of the guide rod 30, the carriage will be properly guided during reciprocation. In the periphery of the rod 30 is i a helical groove 30 and foreign matter collecting on the rod will be prevented from accumulating thereon and in the bearings, for as the sleeves 48 and 49 slide on the rod the foreign matter will be extruded into the groove from whence it will pass and thus a self-cleaning arrangement is provided which materially reduces the friction on the rod and sleeves. Since the guide rod is disposed below the plane of the bed 17 it does not impede access to the bed and such mounting,

aidedby the housing 31, protects the rod against damage. A stop S for limiting movement of the carriage toward the supply roll 19 is mounted on the rod 30 and includes a shock absorbing pad in the form of a rubber ring. The stop S is held in adjusted position by a set screw or other approved retaining devices.

A grip roller '52 has the ends thereof journaled in the side frame members 24 and 25.

Rockably mounted between the side frame mem- A screw extends into the frame member on the side of the bearing 59 opposite the plunger 58 to limit action of the plunger and to prevent displacement of the bearing portion. This mounting permits the roller R and the frame 53 to be pivoted from the position illustrated in Fig. 10 into the position illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 and when the roller R is pivoted toward the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, it moves past the grip roller 52 so as to move past center and as it moves past center, the

springs 57 are compressed. By reason of the fact 7 pivoting of the frame 53 to also pivot the roller R is brought about by grasping the handle 61 provided on the platen frame 53. On the roller R outwardly of the end member 54 is a wheel 62 which cooperates with suitable devices in the frame to insure rotation of the roller R when the carriage is first moved from the position shown in Fig. l. A paper guide 6 extends between the side members 24 and 25 and when the platen roller R. is in the position illustrated in Fig. 10, a sheet rested on the guide 64 may be passed between the rollers R and 52 into engagement with a suitable margin bar which may be, for example, of the kind disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 368,683, filed June 5, 1929, although any other form of margin bar may be employed without departing from the purview of my invention.

At the start of an operation, the platen roller may be in the position shown in Fig. 16 and the carriage C will be in the position shown in Fig. 8. A sheet will be rested on the paper guide 64 and the end thereof will be passed between the rollers 52 and R to engage the margin bar. The handle 61 will then be grasped to move the roller R past the grip roller 52 whereupon the sheet will be effectively gripped between these rollers. During this time the carriage will be supported on the rollers 26 and 27 which will be resting on the pads 46 and 47 and the platen roller B, when in downward position, will be lightly touching the gelatin band 13. However, as soon as the carriage C is moved in the direction of the supply roll 19, the rollers 26 and 27 will move toward the inclined edges of the pads 46 and 47 (see Figs. 8 and 9 where pad 46 is illustrated) and as soon as the rollers 26 and 27 disengage the pads, the entire weight of the carriage will be supported by the platen roller R which will therefore force the sheet toward the band 18 with sufiicient pressure to make clear, clean impressions on the sheet. During the movement of the carriage toward the supply roll 19, which is at the rear of the machine, the sheet will be applied to the gelatin band and unless the carriage is run beyond the edge of the sheet, the cooperation of the platen roller R- and the grip roller 52 will withdraw the sheet when the carriage is moved toward the front of the machine, and during both of these movements, the carriage will be riding on the platen roller. If at any time during the reciprocation of the carriage the platen roller R is moved into the upper position illustrated in Fig. 10, the rollers 26 and 27 will engage the trackways on the tops of the side frames 15 and 16, and the carriage will then travel on these rollers. When the carriag moves back. into the position shown in Fig. 1, these members will move up the inclined edges and onto the pads 46 and 47. In a machine constructed in the foregoing manner, the sheets will be forced toward the gelatin band by the weight of the carriage out if the platen roller is retracted, the weight of the carriage will be supported on rollers to thereby prevent contact of any portion of the carriage with the gelatin band. Furthermore, the carriage may be pivoted into the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 at any position along the bed to afford access to the gelatin band.

It has been stated that the gelatin hand is withdrawn from a supply roll and wound upon a take-up roll. To expedite winding of the gelatin band, the following devices are provided. Outwardly of the side frame 15 is a housing which is suitably joined to the side frame. In

this housing 65 are bearings 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70. A shaft '71 is journaled in the bearings 66, 67 and 68 and a short shaft 72 is journaled in the bearings 69 and 70 in axial alignment with the shaft 71. The ends of these two shafts abut between the bearings 68 and 69 and a sleeve 73 is provided on these shafts adjacent the abutment. On the periphery of the sleeve 73 is a spiral gear 74. On the shaft 71 adjacent one end of the sleeve 73 is a pin 75 and notches 76 are provided in the end of the sleeve 73 which are adapted to cooperate with this pin 75, as will be described. On the shaft 72 is a pin '77 and notches 78 in the adjacent end of the sleeve 73 are adapted to cooperate with this pin. Journaled in a bearing 79 (Fig. 13) in the housing 65 is a shaft 80 having a hand wheel 81 on the outer end thereof and fast on this shaft 80 is a spiral gear 82 which meshes with the spiral gear 74. By turning the hand wheel 81 in one direction, the spiral gear 82 will act on the teeth of the spiral gear 74 to move the sleeve 73 along the shaft 71 and '72 to thereby either engage the notches 76 with the pin 75 or the notches 78 with the pin 7'7 and when the hand wheel is turned in the opposite direction, the notches and pins opposite those engaged during the first turning of the shaft 71 will engage. In this manner either the shaft 71 or the shaft 72 may be rotated. Journaled in the side frame 15 is a shaft 83 and on this shaft is a spiral gear which meshes with the spiral gear 84 fast on the shaft 71. Journaled in the side frame member 15 is a shaft 85 which has a spiral gear thereon which meshes with a spiral gear 86 on the shaft 72. Thus, when the hand wheel is rotated in one direction, the shaft 71 will be turned and consequently the spiral gear so and therefore the shaft 83. When the hand wheel 61 is turned in the opposite direction, the shaft 72 will be rotated and consequently the spiral gear 86 and the shaft 85 will be rotated. When the shaft 85 is rotated, the gelatin band will be unwound from the supply roll, the spindle 20 of which is connected to the shaft 83, to be wound upon the take-up roll 22, the spindle of which is connected to the shaft 85. By turning the handle in the other direction, the band will be wound from the take-up roll toward the supply roll.

This winding in opposite directions is utilized to properly position the form applied to the gelatin band so that it will be properly located on the sheets taking impressions from the form on the band. The spindles are preferably made and are connected to the driving shafts therefor in the manner disclosed in the McNally Reissue Patent No. 18,446, reissued May 3, 1932, although, of course, they may be arranged in other ways without departing from my invention. It has been stated that the gelatin band should be taut when it is stretched over the bed 17 and to accomplish this the following devices are provided. 0n the shaft 85 is an enlarged bearing portion 8'7 journaled in a bore in the disc 88. A tapered slot 89 is provided in the disc 88 a roller 9%} is mounted in this tapered slot to bear against the bearing portion 87 on the shaft 85. Mounted on the side frame 15 is a rocker 91 having a foot portion 92 engageable with the roller 96 and when the rocker Sl is in the fullline position of 14, this foot portion 92 whereat the form is applied.

the foot portion 92 permits the roller 90 to move into the smaller portion of the slot 89 and in this position it wedges against the bearing portion 87 to prevent the shaft 85 turning in a direction which would permit unwinding from the roll mounted on the spindle 21 connected to this shaft 35. On the shaft 83 is a bearing portion 93 surrounded by a brake band 94 enclosed in a housing 95 fast to the side frame member 15. In the housing 95 is a lug 96 and the brake band 94 is of the split type having lugs 97 and 98 adjacent the slit therein. One end of a lever 99, pivoted at 100, on the side frame 15 bears against the lug 98 and when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 14, the lever 99 exerts no pressure on the lug 98 and consequently the brake band 94 is not tightened. A shaft 101 is journaled in the side frame 15 and has an arm 102 thereon which controls the movement of the rocker 91. A spring 103 extends between the adjacent end of the lever 99 and the arm 102. On the shaft 101 outwardly of the side frame member 15 is a handle 104. When the handle 7.04 is in the position shown in Fig. 14, the arm 102 engages the stop pin 105. However, by gripping the handle 104, the shaft 101 may be rotated to position the arm 102 in engagement with the stop pin 106. When the band is being wound in either direction, the handle 104 is preferably disposed in the position shown in Fig. 14. However, when the desired portion of theband is disposed above the bed 17, the handle 104 is grasped to turn the arm 102 into the dotted-line position of Fig. 14 whereupon the roller 90 will move into wedging position and the spring 103 will so act on the lever 99 that said lever will force the lug 98 toward the lug 9'7 to thereby tighten the brake band 94 about the bearing portion 93 to resist turning movement of the shaft 83. Thus, as the hand wheel 81 is turned to wind a little more of the band on the take-up roll, the band will be drawn taut and it will be prevented from unloosening by the wedging engagement of the roller 99. To relieve tension on the gelatin band, the arm 102 is moved back into the full-line position of Fig. 14 whereupon the band will be free to be wound in either direction.

When the handle 104 is in the position shown in Fig. 14, the gelatin band may be wound in either direction by merely turning the hand wheel in the desired direction. This construction permits very slight movement of the gelatin band and consequently the form may be very accurately located. Furthermore, the gelatin band may be easily drawn taut by merely properly positioning the handle 104 and then slightly turning the hand wheel.

It is manifest from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel duplicating machine of simple economical construction and efficient and positive operation and that the gelatin band may be expeditiously drawn taut to thereby insure neat impressions on the sheets applied to the band. The securing of neat impressions is also aided by the manner in which pressure is applied to the sheets for the weight of the carriage is impressed on the platen roller during reciprocation of the carriage over the portion of the band The machine also includes devices which elevate the carriage when it is disposed at the forward end of the machine so as to lift all devices on the carriage clear of the gelatin band. Accurate movement of the carriage over the gelatin band is insured by providing a guide rod which holds the carriage against movement in a horizontal plane. This guide rod is supported so that it may move vertically and consequently compensation may be made for any vertical movement of the carriage especially when it may be caused by variations in the thickness of the gelatin band. The guide rod is disposed below the plane of the bed of the machine and is therefore out of the way and by so locating this guide rod the likelihood of damage thereto is materially reduced. Moreover, the guide rod is arranged to be self-cleaning and hence foreign matter will be prevented from collecting thereon which will insure more satisfactory operation.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variations and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. duplicating machine including a bed and a carriage reciprocal over said bed, a platen frame in said carriage having open end slots extending thereinto at opposite ends thereof, a platen roller having bearing portions at the ends thereof journaled in said slots, yieldable means acting on said bearing portions to tend to force said bearing portions from said slots, and removable means at the open ends of said slots for limiting movement of said bearing portions outwardly of said slots.

a duplicating machine having a bed and a carriage reciprocal over said bed, guide means for preventing pivotal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane relative to said bed during reciprocation of said carriage over said bed, said guide means including a self-cleaning rod mounted at the side of said machine.

3. In a duplicating machine having a bed and a carriage reciprocal over said bed, guide means in said machine, bearings on said carriage and sliding along said guide means and cooperating therewith to prevent pivotal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane relative to said bed during reciprocation of said carriage over said bed, the cooperating surfaces of said guide means and said bearings having relieved portions to reduce the friction attendant to reciprocation of said bearings along said guide means.

4. In a duplicating machine having a bed and a carriage reciprocal over said bed, guide means for preventing pivotal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane relative to said bed during reciprocation of said carriage over said bed, said guiding means including a guide rod, and bearings on said carriage having diametrically opposed portions thereof relieved so that when said carriage is in operative position th relieved portions will be disposed in a vertical plane to thereby reduce the friction as said bearings move along said rod.

5. In a duplicating machine having a bed and a carriage reciprocal over said bed, guide means for preventing pivotal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane relative to said bed during reciprocation of said carriage over said bed, said guide means including a rod having a helical groove in the periphery thereof whereby foreign matter collecting on said rod will be forced into said groove during reciprocation of said carriage relative to said rod.

6. A duplicating machine including a bed having a carriage reciprocal thereover, a platen roller in said carriage movable into and from operative position relative to said bed, means supporting said carriage at the forward end of said machine whereby when said platen roller is in operative position it will lightly rest on the gelatin band directed over said bed, said carriage disengaging said supporting means upon movement thereof from the forward end of said bed whereby said carriage will travel on said platen roller when said platen roller is in operative position.

7. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said gelatin band, a platen roller in said carriage movable into and from operative position relative to said band, rollers on. said carriage, supporting means engageable with said rollers when said carriage is located adjacent one end of said inachinelwhereby said platen roller will lightly engage said gelatin band when moved into operative position relative to the band when said carriage is at said one end or the machine whereby said carriage will be supported on said platen roller when said carriage is moved to disengage said rollers from said supporting means.

8. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said hand, guide means for the carriage, and means supporting said guide means to permit vertical movement thereof as said carriage is reciprocated over said band whereby said guide means will compensate for movement over said carriage in a vertical plane during said reciprocation. V

9. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, guide means for the carriage, means supporting said guide means to permit vertical movement thereof as said carriage is reciprocated over said band whereby said guide means will compensate for movement over said carriage in a vertical plane during said reciprocation, and yieldable means holding said guide means in an intermediate position.

10. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, guide means for the carriage including pivctally mounted supporting means, a guide rod mounted in said supporting means, means on said carriage reciprocal along said guide rod, and means acting on said supporting means and counterbalancing the engagement of the means on said carriage with said guide rod to support said guide rod in guiding position during reciprocation of said carriage over said bed, said guide means preventing pivotal movement of said carriage in a horizontal plane relative to said band and afiording vertical movement of said carriage relative to said band.

11. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and I a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, guide means for the carriage including a bracket having foot portions pivotally connected to means extending from one side of said machine at the ends thereof, a guide rod extending between said foot portions, bearing means on said carriage and slidable along said rod, and yieldable means connected to said bracket for normally holding said bracket in an intermediate position and permitting pivotal movement of said bracket and said guide rod as said carriage is reciprocated over said band.

12. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, guide means for the carriage including a bracket having foot portions pivotaliy connected to means extending from one side of said machine at the ends thereof, a guide rod extending between said foot portions, bearing means on said carriage and slidable along said rod, yieldable means connected to said bracket for normally holding said bracket in an intermediate position and permittin pivotal movement of said bracket and said guide rod as said carriage is reciprocated ov said band, and means engaging bracket to limit movement thereof when said carriage is pivoted about said guide rod from inoperative positio relative to said bed.

13. In a duplica i. g machine including a bed having a gelatin band directed thereover, a carriage reciprocal over bed relative to said from position over said band, and means for u limiting pivotal movement of said carriage.

14. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and having trackways thereon, a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, rollers on said carriage and adapted to travel on said trackways to support said carriage, a platen roller in said carriage and movable into operative relation with said band to disengage said rollers from said trackways to then support said carriage on Q said platen roller, and a clamping roller in said carriage and cooperating with said platen roller to maintain it in operative relation with said band when said rollers are disengaged from said trackways.

15. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover, a carriage reciprocal over the bed relative to said band, a platen roller in said carriage movable into and from operative relation with the band and adapted to support the carriage when in operative relation with the band, guide means for the carriage to prevent pivotal movement thereof in a horizontal plane relative to the bed during the reciprocation or the carriage over the a bed, and means for ccunterbalancing said guide means whereby uniform pressure is applied by said platen roller on said band.

16. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover, a carriage reciprocal over the bed relative to the band, a platen roller in the carriage movable into and from operative relation with the band and adapted to support the carriage when in operative relation with the band, guide means at one end of uniform pressure is applied by said platen roller on said band.

17. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band directed thereover, a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band and including a frame having a bearing portion depending below said bed at the side of the machine, a guide rod at the side of the machine and directed through said bearing portion, movable supporting means for the guide rod and permitting movement thereof during reciprocation of the carriage over the band to maintain the carriage in uniform operative relation with the band, means counterbalancing said supporting means to maintain the guide rod in proper position, said bearing portion being slidabl on said guide rod and being pivotal relative thereto whereby said carriage may be moved from position over said band, said counterbalancing means permitting movement of said guide rod to facilitate positioning of said carriage when moved from position over said band.

18. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and having traclzways thereon, a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, rollers on said carriage and adapted to travel on said trackways to support said carriage, a platen roller in said carriage and movable into operative relation with said band to disengage said rollers from said trackways to thereby support said carriage on said platen roller, and guide means cooperating with said carriage to prevent pivotal movement thereof in a horizontal plane during reciprocation thereof over said bed relative to said band.

19. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and having trackways thereon, a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, rollers on said carriage and adapted to travel on said trackways to support said carriage, a platen roller in said carriage and movable into operative relation with said band to disengage said rollers from said trackways to thereby support said carriage on said platen roller, guide means cooperating with said car iage to prevent pivotal movement thereof in a horizontal plane during reciprocation thereof over said bed relative to said band, and means for counterbalancing said guide means whereby uniform pressure is applied by said platen roller on said band.

20. In a duplicating machine including a horizontal bed having gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band and capable of vertical movement, guide means for the carriage including an elongated bar, and means supporting said bar for vertical movement and mounted to maintain said bar in horizontal position whereby said bar may uniformly move vertically as said carriage is reciprocated over said band to compensate for vertical movement of said carriage during reciprocation.

21. In a duplicating machine including a horizontal bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band and capable of vertical movement, guide means for the carriage including an elongated bar, means supporting said bar for vertical movement and mounted to maintain said bar in horizontal positon whereby said bar may uniformly move vertically as said carriage is reciprocated over said band to compensate for vertical movement of said carriage during reciprocation, and i ieans yieldingly holding the guide means normally intermediate the limits of the vertical movement thereof.

22. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, an elongated bar for guiding the carriage, and common means for supporting the bar at its ends so that both ends of the bar must move simultaneously and equally upon movement of the carriage induced by irregularities in the surface over which said carriage reciprocates.

23. In a duplicating machine including a bed having a gelatin band stretched thereover and a carriage reciprocal over said bed relative to said band, an elongated bar for guiding the carriage, common means for supporting the bar at its ends so that both ends of the bar must move simultaneously and equally upon movement of the carriage induced by irregularities in the surface 2 over which said carriage reciprocates, and means cooperating with the common means to relieve the weight of said bar from said carriage during reciprocation of the carriage.

JOHN J. FLANIGAN. 

